NEWS DIGEST– A government report has exposed officials of the Zamfara State 2023 Hajj committee for deliberately allowing known terrorists to partake in the recently concluded Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
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The report, presented to the state governor, Dauda Lawal, by a committee appointed to review the exercise, also detailed various corrupt practices, including embezzlement of funds, lack of documentation, and criminal reduction of pilgrims’ allowances.
The report further implicated officials of the Zamfara Hajj Commission (ZAHCOM) in orchestrating the diversion of government and pilgrims’ funds. It highlighted the lack of proper record-keeping systems and compliance among local government areas, as well as poor screening processes which facilitated the participation of criminals in the hajj exercise. The report also pointed out the operation of multiple bank accounts, leading to confusion and potential misuse of funds.
Musa Mallaha, the chairman of the committee, called for a complete overhaul of ZAHCOM in light of these shocking findings.
Governor Dauda Lawal expressed his disappointment over the misuse of pilgrims’ and public funds, citing the large number of missing deposits and financial scandal involving ZAHCOM staff. He assured that he would take necessary actions to implement the committee’s recommendations in the coming days.
This exposé comes five weeks after PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported the apprehension of terrorists, their spouses, and informants at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto upon their return from Saudi Arabia. With the release of the government report, it becomes imperative for authorities to take swift action to restore public trust in the hajj process and prevent further security breaches.
